Arsenal control key moments to beat Liverpool

Results

Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
06 Jan	5:15 PM	FA	Liverpool (A)	3	1	Win

Luckily the Liverpool game did not look like a typical English cup tie and Arsenal played like an away team. Without Francesc Fabregas the quartet that allows Arsenal to control games (Alexander Hleb, Fabregas, Tomas Rosicky and Gilberto) was incomplete so Arsenal had little fluency.

But the presence of Mathieu Flamini meant that Arsenal could protect their defence better so although Arsenal could not control the game, they controlled their own team game very well.

Liverpool enjoyed a lot of possession and control but could not penetrate Arsenal. I felt that Bellamy would have caused enough hassle to the Arsenal defence that could have resulted in an untidy goal for Liverpool.

Arsenal's own hassle man - Emmanuel Adebayor - was out but Thierry Henry causes another kind of hassle for the defence – defenders pay a lot of attention to Henry and that present opportunities for other attackers to exploit.

For the first goal, Hleb had the ball out right and Henry uncharacteristically went into the box. The Liverpool defenders followed him leaving Rosicky free outside the box. Hleb had also dummied a cross so the all Liverpool defenders and midfielders went into the box. Rosicky finished superbly and it was 0-1.

For the second goal, Henry played to Rosicky and made a small run. Liverpool players expected a one-two with Henry or a pass from Rosicky to another player. As a result nobody challenged Rosicky as firmly, instead they tried to cover his passing options by crowding him. Rosicky picked a spot and placed a good shot which took the keeper by surprise and it was 0-2.

Then Arsenal conceded the kind of goal that they have been donating to teams all season. It is annoying when the team played so well to deny Liverpool any open opportunities just to concede a goal like that.

Henry picked up a ball around the centre circle and hit it ridiculously long as he usually does to invite the defender into a sprint. With such sprints, only Olympic athletes, Aaron Lennon or Theo Walcott need apply.

Although Jamie Carragher had a 10-yard head start, I was surprised he made it there just ahead of Henry. Two months ago, on realising that the defender might get there on time, Henry would have stopped running.

This time, thankfully, he didn't stop and consequently won the ball from Carragher. Thierry did brilliantly from there on in his own style but was very lucky with the finish.

He would not have beaten many keepers with that since he hit at goal rather than the far corner as he usually does. I guess Dudek was half expecting a wider shot and it went under his body. It was a fine goal from a superb player that is looking a bit more like himself.

Poor Baptista is looking a little lost. Theo Walcott was on much later than Baptista but made a much more memorable impression. I remember Moritz Volz reflecting on his time at Arsenal.

He said that after watching how Fabregas took his chance with no fear and with authority when he was given it, he (Volz) wished he had had the same attitude when he was given a chance at Arsenal. Right now, Walcott is taking his chance while Baptista needs a little bit of that attitude.

Arsenal were a little bit lucky. Alonso was booked for a dive. Alonso started his dive long before any contact. The referee could have given a penalty. Henry certainly committed a foul that should have been a penalty and I hope he remembers not to do that again. If he was a defender, it would have been given.

Arsenal's young players are getting booked quite often. Emmanuel Eboue for a stupid foul and driven by his attitude (again), Gaël Clichy for a foul in the opposition third that he did not need to make but he was also unlucky and Philippe Senderos for tackle that Johan Djourou could have disguised as a simple foul. We cannot afford to lose Clichy for certain games so some discipline is needed.

It is clear that Arsenal need Fabregas to get any fluency in games. The midfield quartet is quite important to control games and it is good to see goals from midfield, especially from Rosicky. It will motivate him. I wonder if Arsène Wenger will play a strong team in the Carling Cup.

The great thing today is that Arsenal controlled most of the key moments. They scored from their chances and stopped Liverpool in key attacking situations. That's the way it should be.

User Comments

aabbs

Posted on 8 Jan, 2007 at 10:58 PM - Reply

Thats exactly what we been missing these last few years, someone willing 2 take the responsibility, and instead of passing it, catching the keeper unawares and going 4 it like rosicky done on saturady night.
The goal conceded was gilbertos fault, shame hes been playing well recently, anyways, great result, lets hope we carry on this form.

Le

Posted on 8 Jan, 2007 at 03:47 PM - Reply

I'm guessing yoy meant Silva and not Henry. Yes Henry has been eatching and learning from Ade, who I still prefer to VP.

Nick

Posted on 8 Jan, 2007 at 02:12 PM - Reply

Fully agree with this article, this is how we should be playing all the time

Nick

Posted on 8 Jan, 2007 at 02:11 PM - Reply

I think Liverpool deserved to win so badly.

herb tree

Posted on 8 Jan, 2007 at 01:25 PM - Reply

Fully agree with this article, this is how we should be playing all the time

Bouncer

Posted on 8 Jan, 2007 at 10:08 AM - Reply

How come no mention of the protest?

User Comments

• Got something to say?
• Read comments

Vs chelsea